Melbourne Theatre Company facts for kids
 |
|
| Industry | Theatre |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1953, as Union Theatre Reportory Company |
| Founder | John Sumner |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Theatrical productions |
The Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) is a famous theatre group in Melbourne, Australia. It started in 1953 as the Union Theatre Repertory Company. This makes it the oldest professional theatre company in Australia. It began at the Union Theatre at the University of Melbourne.
The MTC has its own special home, the Southbank Theatre. This theatre has two main stages: the Sumner, which seats 500 people, and the Lawler, which seats 150. The company also performs at the Arts Centre Melbourne in the Fairfax Studio and Playhouse. All these places are in Melbourne's Arts Precinct in Southbank. The MTC is seen as Victoria's official state theatre company. It works closely with the University of Melbourne. In 2013, the MTC put on ten to twelve main plays each year. They also had programs for education, families, and new play development. About 20,000 people subscribed to their shows. Around 250,000 people watched their plays every year.
Contents
History of the Melbourne Theatre Company
The Melbourne Theatre Company was started in 1953. John Sumner founded it as the Union Theatre Repertory Company. It was based at the Union Theatre, which is part of the University of Melbourne Student Union. John Sumner wanted to put on plays when the student drama groups were not using the theatre. It was Australia's first professional theatre group that performed a new play every two weeks. Later, they started performing a new play every three weeks.
The very first play they performed was Colombe by Jean Anouilh. It opened on August 31, 1953. Famous actors like Zoe Caldwell, George Fairfax, and Alex Scott were in it. Zoe Caldwell later became very successful on Broadway.
Australian Plays and Directors
Over the years, the Melbourne Theatre Company has supported many Australian writers. They introduced plays by writers like Alan Seymour, Patrick White, David Williamson, and Hannie Rayson. These plays were shown to many people in Melbourne. The first Australian play the company produced was Summer of the Seventeenth Doll. This play by Ray Lawler came out in 1955. It quickly became known as an Australian classic.
Ray Lawler took over from John Sumner as the company's director in 1955 and 1956. When Lawler went to London to perform The Doll, Wal Cherry became the director. Wal Cherry led the company from 1956 to 1959. He liked to try new and bold ideas in theatre. This helped Melbourne audiences enjoy different kinds of plays. However, the company did not make as much money during this time.
In 1959, John Sumner returned as director. He guided the company for 28 years. By the time he retired in 1987, the MTC had grown to be the biggest theatre company in Australia. Since then, the company has had several artistic directors. Roger Hodgman was director from 1987 to 1999. He helped the MTC through some tough financial times. Simon Phillips was the Artistic Director from 2000 to 2011. Brett Sheehy took over in 2012 and stayed until 2022. In 2012, Robyn Nevin, Pamela Rabe, and Aidan Fennessy managed the season before Brett Sheehy started. Anne-Louise Sarks became the artistic director in 2023.
The Melbourne Theatre Company has performed in many different places in Melbourne. These include the Russell Street Theatre, the Melbourne Athenaeum, and the Comedy Theatre. They have also performed at the Princess Theatre.
Directors of the MTC
Artistic Directors
- 1953–1955 John Sumner
- 1955–1956 Ray Lawler
- 1956–1959 Wal Cherry
- 1959–1987 John Sumner
- 1987–1999 Roger Hodgman
- 2000–2011 Simon Phillips
- 2012 Robyn Nevin, Pamela Rabe, Aidan Fennessy
- 2013–2022 Brett Sheehy
- 2023– Anne-Louise Sarks
Associate Directors
Petra Kalive was named an associate director in 2020. In November 2024, she left the MTC. She became the artistic director of the State Theatre Company South Australia.
Awards and Recognition
The Melbourne Theatre Company has won many awards for its plays and performances. One of the most important awards in Australia for live entertainment is the Helpmann Awards. These awards have been given out since 2001. The MTC has won several Helpmann Awards for Best Play, Best Direction, and for its actors.
For example, in 2001, Life After George won the Helpmann Award for Best Play. Caroline O'Conner won Best Female Actor in a Play for Piaf in the same year. In 2004, Inheritance won Best Play. The Sapphires won Best Play in 2005. The musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee won Best Musical in 2006.
More recently, in 2018, The Children won Best Play. Sarah Goodes won Best Direction for The Children, and Pamela Rabe won Best Female Actor in a Play for her role in it. These awards show how much the Melbourne Theatre Company is respected in the Australian theatre world.
